The Damcasters - The Aviation History Podcast

Matt Bone
  • 5.0 (6)
  • AVIATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Damcasters - The Aviation History Podcast

Welcome to The Damcasters, a podcast covering aviation history from when Pontius was a Pilate to today and beyond, brought to you in association with the Pima Air and Space Museum.Every week, we will be taking a fresh look at the history of both civil and military flying, from the earliest days of people jumping off of rocks and hoping to survive to the latest in unmanned flight. While it is inevitable that we will we can get a bit avgeek-y, we aim to be as inclusive as possible so that if you have even a passing interest in flight, we will have something for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The Most Efficient Airman - The Life of Don Bennett

    DEC 12

    The Most Efficient Airman - The Life of Don Bennett

    Don Bennett was rated by the future Bomber Command boss, Arthur Harris, as "the most efficient airman" he had ever known. In part two of our chat with Bennett's biographer, Ian Campbell, curator of the Bennett/Vial Archive at the Queensland Air Museum, we get into the incredible record-breaking flights Don flew in Mercury and his return to the RAF at the outbreak of war. Relentless Skies: Volume 1 - The Most Efficient Airman (1910-1942) by Ian Campbell is out now! Buy your copy from The Damcasters bookshop and support the pod (UK only): https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781923020641 ----------------------------------------------------- 🛫Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and a welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcasters ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace https://www.instagram.com/pimaair https://www.twitter.com/pimaair https://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseum 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- The Damcasters © 2024 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Introduction 01:57 The McPherson Trophy Race 04:49 Meeting Ly, the Swiss Governess 08:47 Leaving the RAF For Imperial Airways 14:44 The Golden Age of Flying Boats 18:28 The Mayo Composite Aircraft 23:26 Record-Breaking Trans-Atlantic Flight 28:04 The South Africa Record Attempt 36:58 The North Atlantic Ferry 43:09 Ian's Upcoming Talks 45:40 Wrap and End of Year Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  2. Relentless Skies - The Life of Don Bennett

    DEC 5

    Relentless Skies - The Life of Don Bennett

    Air Vice Marshall Don Bennett CB, CBE, DSO was a singular man. His story of leading the Path Finder Force in the Second World War has gone down in legend. But what led him to that command? Ian Campbell, curator of the Bennett/Vial Archive at the Queensland Air Museum, has published the first volume of his biography of Bennett, Relentless Skies, which is superb. Ian joins us to discuss Bennett's life and career as we look at the making of the man who would become one of the RAF's foremost commanders. Relentless Skies: Volume 1 - The Most Efficient Airman (1910-1942) by Ian Campbell is out now! Buy your copy from The Damcasters bookshop and support the pod (UK only): https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781923020641 ----------------------------------------------------- 🛫Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and a welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcasters ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace https://www.instagram.com/pimaair https://x.com/pimaair https://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseum 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- The Damcasters © 2024 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Introduction 01:43 The Author's Perspective 05:33 Exploring Don's Early Life 09:13 The Transition to Aviation 12:02 The Challenge of Writing 17:02 Understanding Don's Character 19:28 The Relationship with Risk 22:33 Capturing Don's Early Years 26:08 The Path to Aviation Career 36:24 The Arrival of Arthur Harris 41:01 Achievements and Licenses 43:17 Conclusion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  3. What the Allies 'Knew' About Japan in 1941

    NOV 28

    What the Allies 'Knew' About Japan in 1941

    How did cultural perceptions influence Western assessments of Japanese military potential? Justin Pyke joins us to discuss the Allies' capabilities assessments of Japan in the years before hostilities started in December 1941. Join us as we delve into the intelligence failures and misconceptions that contributed to the underestimation of Japanese air power leading up to World War II. Join us on BlueSky! Justin Pyke - https://bsky.app/profile/justinpykehistory.bsky.social The Damcasters - https://bsky.app/profile/damcasterspod.com ----------------------------------------------------- 🛫Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and a welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcasters ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace https://www.instagram.com/pimaair https://x.com/pimaair https://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseum 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- The Damcasters © 2024 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro and 100th Episode! 02:44 Understanding Capability Assessments 13:28 Japan's Aviation Development Post-WWI 19:46 Role of Military Attachés in Intelligence 28:05 Impact of Foreign Assistance on Japanese Aviation 33:58 Cultural Perceptions and National Characteristics 41:00 Conclusions on Pre-War Assessments 51:54 Japanese Aviation Development in the 1930s 59:15 Observations from the China Conflict 1:10:04 Misconceptions and Intelligence Failures 1:20:24 Outro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 23m
  4. The B-58 vs the F-11 - Combat Bullseye Pt.2

    NOV 21

    The B-58 vs the F-11 - Combat Bullseye Pt.2

    🛫Visit the Ekster website today via my partner link: https://partner.ekster.com/Damcasterspod and use my code THEDAMCASTERS to get up to a 55% discount in the Ekster Black Friday Sale!!! ----------------------------------------------------- Join us for Part 2 of our look at the Combat Bullseye tests with author Chris Gibson. Phase 2 of Combat Bullseye would see the Covair B-58 Hustler used as a conventional bombing platform as both a pathfinder and solo bomber. But, another aircraft was looming on the horizon, the General Dynamics F-111A. This would be the Hustler's last chance to prove itself and be deployed to Southeast Asia. 🛩️Check out The Aviation Historian here: https://www.theaviationhistorian.com/ 🛩️Buy Chris Gibson's latest book, They Also Served - RAF Reconnaissance and Support Projects since 1945 here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781800353084 Head to the Boney Abroad Bookshop today! 10% of each sale (UK Only) goes to supporting the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/boneyabroad ----------------------------------------------------- 🛫Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and a welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcasters ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace https://www.instagram.com/pimaair https://x.com/pimaair https://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseum 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- The Damcasters © 2024 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro and Ekster Ad Read 02:30 The Hustler as Formation Bomber 08:16 The Hustler as Conventional Bomber 20:01 Solving TAC's SEAD Problem 25:19 B-1 Segway! 30:37 Potential B-58 Deployment 41:27 Wrap Up and Become a Damcasteer! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  5. Could The B-58 Have Served In Vietnam? Combat Bullseye Pt.1

    NOV 14

    Could The B-58 Have Served In Vietnam? Combat Bullseye Pt.1

    🛫Visit the Ekster website today via my partner link: https://partner.ekster.com/Damcasterspod and use my code THEDAMCASTERS to get up to a 55% discount in the Ekster Black Friday Sale!!! ----------------------------------------------------- Join us for Part 1 of our look at the Combat Bullseye tests with author Chris Gibson. In 1967, the US Air Force's Tactical Air Command reached out to their counterpart in the Strategic Air Command for some help. Bombing results in North Vietnam were poor, and the F-4s, F-100s and F-105s were suffering losses. Could SAC's speedy Convair B-58 Hustler be the answer? The Combat Bullseye tests would find out. 🛩️Check out The Aviation Historian here: https://www.theaviationhistorian.com/ 🛩️Buy Chris Gibson's latest book, They Also Served - RAF Reconnaissance and Support Projects since 1945 here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781800353084 Head to the Boney Abroad Bookshop today! 10% of each sale (UK Only) goes to supporting the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/boneyabroad ----------------------------------------------------- 🛫Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and a welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcasters ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace https://www.instagram.com/pimaair https://x.com/pimaair https://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseum 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- The Damcasters © 2024 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro and Ekster Ad Read 03:13 TAC's Situation in Vietnam 08:40 Combat Bullseye Begins 12:58 Enter The Hustler! 22:18 The Birth of the Slime Light 25:37 Fighting Together 33:27 Preview of Part 2 - The Conventional Hustler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  6. The Aviation Book Review! with Andy Wright

    OCT 31

    The Aviation Book Review! with Andy Wright

    🛫Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and a welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcasters ----------------------------------------------------- Welcome to a new show on The Damcasters, where Andy Wright of Aircrew Book Review and I will discuss the latest in aviation books! 🛩️Check out the Aircrew Book Review site here: https://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/ 🛩️Join the Aircrew Book Review Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aircrewbookreview/ 🛩️Follow Andy on Twitter/X here: https://x.com/aircrewbookrevu Book Review 1 - Stanford Tuck by Helen Doe Book Review 2 - From Biplanes to Fast Jets by Ken Aedy Book Review 3 - Solo 2 Darwin by Amanda Harrison Book Review 4 - Admiral VAT Smith by Graeme Lunn Book Preview - Relentless Skies by Ian Campbell Head to the Boney Abroad Bookshop to grab your copy of all the books we discussed today! 10% of each sale (UK Only) goes to supporting the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/boneyabroad ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace https://www.instagram.com/pimaair https://x.com/pimaair https://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseum ----------------------------------------------------- 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- The Damcasters © 2024 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro 02:22 What does a Book Editor Do? 28:35 Book Review 1 - Stanford Tuck 35:03 Book Review 2 - From Biplane to Fast Jets 39:46 Book Review 3 - Solo 2 Darwin 44:22 Book Review 4 - Admiral VAT Smith 49:12 Book Preview - Relentless Skies 58:30 Wrap Up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  7. Boeing's Fortresses Part 3 - The B-52 Stratofortress

    OCT 24

    Boeing's Fortresses Part 3 - The B-52 Stratofortress

    Join us for Part 3 of our series on Boeing's Fortresses, the evergreen B-52 Stratofortress! 🛩️Watch all of our Boeing's Fortresses mini-series as they drop here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpytFew7euhmG92JX9NVUkl4ZbgZ7VmSU 🛩️Check out Ben Skipper's first visit to The Damcasters on Civil Aviation's First 100 Years right here: https://www.thedamcasterspod.com/podcast/100-years-of-civil-aviation-with-ben-skipper/ 🛩️Buy Ben's Flight Craft books from Pen and Sword at The Damcasters Bookshop (UK Only) here: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/boneyabroad 👉Follow Ben on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/WriteBenSkipper 👉Follow Ben on Bluesky here: https://bsky.app/profile/benskipper.bsky.social 👉Visit Ben's Fallout Substack here: https://fallout.substack.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace https://www.instagram.com/pimaair https://x.com/pimaair https://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseum 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- 🛫Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and a welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcasters ----------------------------------------------------- The Damcasters © 2024 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Introduction 03:31 The Road to the Forever Bomber 23:33 The Sublime B-47 Stratojet 45:45 The Competition from the B-1 56:37 The New Engines 75:55 Conclusion to Boeing's Fortresses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 19m
  8. Boeing's Fortresses Part 2 - The B-29 Superfortress

    OCT 17

    Boeing's Fortresses Part 2 - The B-29 Superfortress

    Join us for Part 2 of our series on Boeing's Fortresses, the remarkable B-29 Superfortress! Ordered from Boeing's drawing board and costing $3b in 1940s money, the delivery system for the atomic bomb cost even more than the weapon itself. But that is only part of the remarkable tale Ben Skipper has to share with us. 🛩️Catch all the Boeing's Fortresses Mini-Series as they drop here: https://www.thedamcasterspod.com/tag/boeing-fortresses/ 🛩️Check out Ben Skipper's first visit to The Damcasters on Civil Aviation's First 100 Years right here: https://www.thedamcasterspod.com/podcast/100-years-of-civil-aviation-with-ben-skipper/ 🛩️Buy Ben's Flight Craft books from Pen and Sword at The Damcasters Bookshop (UK Only) here: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/boneyabroad 👉Follow Ben on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/WriteBenSkipper 👉Follow Ben on Bluesky here: https://bsky.app/profile/benskipper.bsky.social 👉Visit Ben's Fallout Substack here: https://fallout.substack.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace https://www.instagram.com/pimaair https://x.com/pimaair https://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseum 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- 🛫Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and a welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcasters ----------------------------------------------------- The Damcasters © 2024 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Introduction 02:12 The B-29's Origins 08:58 Design Challenges 13:52 Curtis LeMay Returns 21:16 The Battle of Kansas 24:20 Engine Issues and Production 30:48 Flying The Hump 34:17 Psychological Impact on Japan 42:33 Special Weapons 49:26 Hiroshima and Nagasaki 63:27 Legacy of the B-29 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m
See All (97)

Trailer

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Damcasters, a podcast covering aviation history from when Pontius was a Pilate to today and beyond, brought to you in association with the Pima Air and Space Museum.Every week, we will be taking a fresh look at the history of both civil and military flying, from the earliest days of people jumping off of rocks and hoping to survive to the latest in unmanned flight. While it is inevitable that we will we can get a bit avgeek-y, we aim to be as inclusive as possible so that if you have even a passing interest in flight, we will have something for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada